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Kressler Knives
- Thread starter giant1
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Respectfully, I'd have to offer up Charly Bennica to add to the list. If there is finer, more symmetrical grind and inlay work than this piece, I must see it:
In response to STeven's comment about this Bennica style, I think it would most appropriately be classified first as a full integral, but in the "subcategory", as it were, as an integral. So for me it's an integral and also/then an interframe. I am probably overworking the point, because I think we are really saying the same thing.
Bottem for me is I had been admiring this very knife and I wanted it, kept considering it - and someone else got to it first. Not sure I would have pulled the trigger, bet felt I might be coming close to doing so. It's got it all, in my opinion.
My guess would be slabs. I was wondering what the material is?
Perhaps Coop will provide some information as he took the photo shown.
No doubt it is an exceptionally fine knife.
Peter
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Kevin -- this is the same knife except for different stag color and no engraving and while it looks to be integral, it is not. I don't think I have seen a SRJ that is integral.
BTW -- Herman Schneider and Billy Mace Imel make fine integrals also.
According to Steve, he has made his "Classic Hunter" (two versions depicted above) using both non-integral and integral construction. He believes his integral versions are equipped with a shorter blade such as seen on the first example above.
The link below to a Steve Johnson "work in progress" (courtesy of David Darom's book "Custom Knifemaking" & the CKCA website) depicts Steve's typical construction utilizing his "invisible fit" pinned bolsters (notice slide #13). Thus making it very difficult to determine from a photo if a knife is integral of not. The fact that we are having this discussion really speaks highly of Steve's incredible talent.
http://www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com/Johnson.html
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Peter, it's Pietersite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietersite) and this blue is one of the rarest forms. According to KnifeLegeds there are four slabs.
Marcel
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Right.
There have been some extraordinary knives posted in this thread. That Bennica is one of my favorites....and it would be VERY difficult to choose ONLY one.
Marcel - I would have to agree that it is rare pietersite, as any i've seen previously doesn't look like that.
Peter
Marcel - I would have to agree that it is rare pietersite, as any i've seen previously doesn't look like that.
Peter
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I showed this one in another thread but since we're talking about Kressler AND Johnson, here's a fine collaboration between them :
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Want to see some more ? Have a look on this "golden age" sub-hilt set...
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These are quite unusual. Was he training with damascus ? No doubt here : they are integral !
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FYI on the pietersite - Both Buster Warenski and Curt Erickson had some pietersite they handled a couple of art daggers with, and it was almost the identical stuff as those blue scales. But I am with you, Peter, I otherwise have never seen pietersite material that special.
I met Mr. Kressler at the Knifemakers Guild show in Orlando a few years ago. When I walked up to his table, he was very friendly and could see my enthusiasm for one of his stag handled drop point hunters. He says to me "go ahead and take it with you and send me a check if you like it". Now I'm used to the cordial, outgoing, old fashioned "handshake is my bond" attitude between most knifemakers and their customer collectors but his generosity caught me completely by surprise, especially in this day and age as he didn't know me personally and the knife was quite valuable. Anyhow his actions spoke volumes to me about his personality, his zest for life and his deep understanding of what's truly important in this world. I got the sense he's quite a bonvivant. While it would have never crossed my mind to take him up on his offer, his gesture made me want this knife even more and now I have an interesting story to go along with it. I for one am grateful to know there are still people in the world like Mr. Kressler who are living life to its fullest and maximizing every opportunity that comes their way to make a difference far, far beyond his superb knife making capability.
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Giant1 -- from the photo it is difficult to determine if the SRJ hunter is bolstered or integral but you wanted a clue? see my signature on the photo. Actually, that particular knife is part of my collection and I have handled the piece extensively. and it is definitely a bolstered piece. Actually, I really should re photograph it and do images of the spine/bolster join so that one would see that from the photo.
we did move a bit from a DF Kressler thread so I'll just comment about another maker doing incredible integral knives -- Rodrigo Sfreedo whose MS dagger won the Moran Award at Blade 2009.
we did move a bit from a DF Kressler thread so I'll just comment about another maker doing incredible integral knives -- Rodrigo Sfreedo whose MS dagger won the Moran Award at Blade 2009.
I was perusing "Art and Design of Modern Fixed Blade Knives" and many of the makers mentioned and the knives shown in this thread are included.
The Warenski knife on pg. 250 is more typical of what i've seen in pietersite, having shades of tan and browns being more prominant than blue tones.
Knife Legends has another Bennica with lapis scales that is nice.
Peter
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Hi Murray. Though I may be wrong, I deduct from your above post that you may feel I was stating that your SRJ Classic Hunter was an integral. I was not, but rather just passing on information from Steve that integral hunters he has made have shorter blades as yours rather than the engraved version above which has a slightly longer blade.
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not at all Kevin, I was just referring to Giant1 who was wondering how I was certain, or that is the way I interpreted his comment, that the SRJ hunter was not integral due to the fact that the image suggested such due to the fit and finish of the bolster to the tang.
I just neglected to include in the first post that the SRJ hunter I posted was in my collection as I "assumed" my signature on the image would have conveyed that and thus I would know by examining the knife that it was not integral.
I just neglected to include in the first post that the SRJ hunter I posted was in my collection as I "assumed" my signature on the image would have conveyed that and thus I would know by examining the knife that it was not integral.
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Thanks Murray, You are right I did not notice your signature so that explains a lot.
Here are some SRJ's integrals, including one full integral.
I'm quite happy to say I'm the proud owner of the knife pictured here. As well, I have a drop point full integral made by Steve that makes a matching set with the utility. Full integrals are indeed rare from Steve, although I know of maybe 10 or so in existence.
Full integral I always took to mean having the rear pommel or bolster. Semi-integral is just when the guard is the same piece of steel as the blade/tang.
Here is another picture of the same full integral utility and of a full integral drop point...
Best,
Matt